Spotify Connect disables/silences notifications during playback on external speakers

[friendofkeys]

Hi folks,

I have an interesting issue on on my iOS devices. Whenever I play music via Spotify Connect on my SONOS System or via generic bluetooth, Spotify seems to silence my notification sounds. This leads to missing every notification while listening to music on external devices. 

This effect does *not* appear, when using Airplay to connect to SONOS from within the Spotify app.

I checked on two different iPhones (SE2020 and 12) both using the most current iOS (14.2.x) and the effect is the same on both devices. It does also not appear when using the SONOS app to play Spotify songs. So it seams as if this is an issue within the Spotify app itself. Can anyone confirm this?

[stagsold]

This is only happening on my iPhone device. i have not tried it with any other speakers.

Please advise.

[Eni]

Hey there @stagsold, 

Thanks for getting back to us. 

Could you let us know if this has always happened or if it started happening after a specific event such as an update?

On another note, would you mind letting us know if this is only happening when you're listening to music on an external speaker or when you're streaming directly on your phone as well?

We'll be on the lookout. 

[friendofkeys]

It's good to see that things are moving now. However - too late for me. I switched to Apple Music because Spotify is too focused on analyzing my music taste instead of caring about technical improvements (still no Spotify HiFi). Sorry, maybe I'll come back someday 🙂

[stagsold]

This has been happening for me for over 2 years so I do not think it is related to an event or a specific update. This is only happening when I stream and listen directly from the phone. I do not plan on testing or listening on an external speaker.

[CarlosE]

Hey @stagsold,

Thanks for your reply in this thread 🙂
 

In this case, might be worth checking if:

• The ringer switch isn’t silenced.
• Do not Disturb and Focus mode are turned off.
• The volume of notifications is high enough in ‘Settings > Sounds and Haptics’.

On another note, keep in mind Bluetooth is different from using the Connect feature. In the case of Bluetooth, your phone is playing the audio still and then transferring it to a speaker over the air. So any notification sound will be played over the speaker too, but you might barely hear them because of the music playing as well.

We hope you found this helpful. Let us know if you need anything else. 

[gAggiNgcactUS]

Mine does this when accessing Spotify through the Alexa app in order to play on echo devices (using Spotify connect skill). 
Best I’ve been able to do attempting to compensate, is enabling led flash notifications. Not even iPhone alarm sounds play on the phone - or anywhere else. When I disconnect, everything returns to normal. Missing important notifications due to this. 

iPhone XR

16.1

Latest Spotify version. 

[HESCH]

Or you could just admit it’s a Spotify problem rather than bail it on everyone’s phone.  It happens regardless of update, restart, blah blah blah. It’s a Spotify issue to fix it

[qtzbra]

Hello! I have the exact same problem, but it persists even when I have had my iPods connected and listened to music. Even after disconnecting the iPods, Spotify mutes notifications.

I have done everything you ask for in the previous comments.

An interesting part is: If I start casting to my sonos speaker, and then close the iPhone app (hard close on the iPhone), notifications are suddenly enabled. So it must have to do with the app.

[qtzbra]

Agree with @gAggiNgcactUS - is not only sound notification which is muted - also vibration and flash notifications are disabled.

[qtzbra]

Nope @CarlosE, this is not helpful. And no, this does not only occur using bluetooth. It also happens when I cast to Chrome or Sonos devices. Which is odd, because then my phone is not actually playing the music, de device is. Everyting is muted, not only sound, but vibration and flash notifications as well.

[Lyubka]

Hey @qtzbra,

Thank you for your reply in this thread.

We weren't able to recreate this on our end and we'd like you to try couple of things first. 

We'd recommend to check your device's sound and notification settings. 

On another note, do you have the app still open while you're listening through connect? We'd also want to know if the experience is different if you close the App and let the speaker play on independently.

In case the issue persists, we'd appreciate it if you share the make, model, OS version and Spotify version of the device you're using, as well as a quick video of the issue so we can get a better understanding and help you further. 

We'll be on the lookout for your reply. 

[user-removed]

I’m not sure how we are expected to take a video of our phone being silent while using Spotify, as most folks use their phone for taking video…

This has been happening for a while now and it is clearly a bug on Spotify’s end. Phone volume is on, notification sounds are on, volume is turned up, all other apps are closed— whether connecting the phone to a Bluetooth speaker, playing through the phone speakers, connecting to Bluetooth headphones, or using Spotify through the TV via Firestick, all phone and Apple Watch sounds and vibrations are silenced while Spotify is playing— if Spotify is paused, notifications resume normally. This is a huge issue, especially for those of us who run our own small WFH businesses, where every missed notification could mean lost business and therefore a detriment to livelihood. 

iPhone 11 Pro Plus

iOS 16.1.2

Spotify 8.7.94.551

Please fix this bug ASAP. I have been a happy Spotify customer for years and it will be a massive inconvenience that will assure I do not return if I have to cancel my account and switch to a new service.

[qtzbra]

Hello Lyubka! 
iPhone 12 Mini
iOS version 15.6.1

Spotify version 8.7.92.521

as I wrote: if I play music casting to my Sonos speaker via the Spotify app (not using the Sonos app) all notifications are muted. No vibration, no sound, no vibration nor sound on my Apple Watch neither. 

If I start casting and the close the app on my phone, notifications are working. 

It is hard making a video out of this. But if you really need it I could do it. 

[MihailY]

Hey folks,

Thanks for sending over those details.

We've forwarded this to the relevant team for further review. We'll get back to you in this thread if we have any updates to share.

Take care,

[MihailY]

Hey everyone,

One of our colleagues who tested this confirmed that upgrading to iOS 16.2 has resolved the issue for them. Has anyone else upgraded to this version and what was the result?

Keep us posted.

[ldblond]

Nope still an issue as of 3.24.2023

[muttbread83]

Solved

okay, this was driving me nuts. 

go into your IOS settings for Spotify and enable notifications. When Spotify is open it acts as a filter, passing audio notifications through when music is playing acting as a “filter”, having Spotify notifications turned off essentially results in them being rejected. 
verified on IPhone 13 Pro Max, with Apple Watch ultra today, text tones now play over the music and my watch vibrates, plays it’s tone and lights up. 

[PDLaughlin]

How in the world is this still and issue?!?! And the ridiculous questions asked by support is maddening. 

Fix it Spotify. This can’t be that hard. 

[DHarry79]

Yea this is absolutely brutal.  Known problem for YEARS and they simply don't **bleep**.  

[Stone-Dragon]

I found an option in my Samsung Galaxy 22. Under the setting for the phone choose "sounds and vibration" the last option on my sound settings is play media sound on different audio device under "separate app sound". I was able to link it to a game I need notifications to be pushed through while I'm listening to Spotify on my headphones.